The Portuguese government asks for European audit to the origin of the blackout

Portugal will ask Energy Regulatory Cooperation Agency that proceeds to an independent audit for Origin of the blackout. This was one of several measures announced by the Prime Minister Luis Montenegroat a time when the government was still gathered in the Council of Ministers

At a press conference, Montenegro considered that the energy regulatory agency is the “Most appropriate entity” To do so and that “fast and urgent responses” are needed, pointing out that the blackout originated in Spain.

“We will not save efforts to clarify to the Portuguese of a serious problem that did not originate in Portugal,” Montenegro said.

The prime minister also announced the creation of An independent technical committeewhich will analyze the resilience of the electrical system and the response of the institutions. This commission will be composed of seven personalities, including energy experts, telecommunications, civil protection and three personalities nominated by the Assembly of the Republic.

They are too APROMENTS in two days the deadlines for the fulfillment of tax obligationsthat ended in blackout. HE Early voting record For inmates and admitted patients it also extended for another day.

Portugal will have legislative elections on May 18. The government’s response must now become one of the campaign issues.

Finally, the government is also going Expand the black start capacity of electric plantsThat is, the possibility that these restart the operation, without depending on external energy sources. This function will also be inserted into alkeva and low flavor dams.

Serious, unprecedented and unexpected situation

Portuguese prime minister spoke with the country at a time when theThe electricity network was completely restored.

“The country is normally linked. The 6 million and 400,000 clients are linked. The country is being fed with national production,” he said, referring to the fact that, at the time of the blackout, Portugal is importing energy from Spain.

Luís Montenegro classified the situation of “Severe, unpublished and unexpected.” But he took the opportunity to praise the reaction of population professionals and critical services, speaking a “remarkable effort” and preparation for “living less good times.”

But I also had Defend communication of the government, which has also been widely criticized. The prime minister only spoke with the country early at night, when the energy was already being restored. Civil Protection sent an SMS message at five in the afternoon, which was only received at eight.

Luís Montenegro said the Contact with radiowhich considered the most available means, admitting, however, it is always possible to “improve procedures.”

Another problem was the SIRES faults (Emergency Network and Integrated Security System of Portugal). An autonomous communication system for public services and security in case of crisis.

“We have registered with some anomalies in the operation of SIRESP that are not new,” said Montenegro. “We will make a strict evaluation of what happened to overcome the limitations that this system has brought once.

The opposition says that the government has failed

The communication capacity was precisely the greatest criticism of Pedro Nuno Santos. EITHER Leader of the Socialist Party (PS), the biggest opposition party, spoke a few minutes after the government.

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“The government has not been able to defend and inform citizens in a timely manner,” he said, emphasizing that the authorities were A long time without revealing information.

“The experiences of recent months have already shown how much The government is incompetent in times of crisis.“He added, remembering last year’s fires and the INEM crisis (Institute of the Medical Emergency Response Institute).

“The next few years have been guessed with great uncertainty and the prime minister shows that the great concern is propaganda.”

But the two political opponents agreed to complement the behavior of citizens. The PS leader said that The community maintained “El País standing.”

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He also said that the privatization of the Energy Distribution Company (SEN) and the closure of coal energy production centers were not responsible for this crisis, because Portugal was at that time, importing the energy of Spain.

The blackout must be One of the issues of the debate between Luís Montenegro and Pedro Nuno Santosthat will take place on Wednesday night. The debate, with the end of the legislative elections, should have elapsed Monday night, but was postponed due to the blackout.